Class of '84
September 2002

Dear Gustie:

Somehow, as remarkable as it may seem, we find ourselves at the start of another academic year. I know we all ask this same question over and over again, but where has the time gone? How can it possibly be true that so many falls have come and gone since we were college freshmen? How can it be that most of us have turned 40?

In my 40th year, I decided to embark on an exotic travel adventure. I thought long and hard about exactly what I should do, and finally decided to go to the Galapagos Islands. I set off on October 18 for my adventure. I’m very excited about this trip and the remarkable opportunity to walk in Darwin’s footsteps.

How are you celebrating your 40th year? Let me know and I’ll share the news in the next letter.

Class News

A few classmates have passed along news from their lives, which I’m happy to share. Here goes.

Though I typically share class news with you by listing people alphabetically, I am going to depart from that practice this time since I have sad news to pass along. The Class of ’84 has lost another classmate: Mark Spurbeck (Superior, Colorado) died in a bike accident on May 5, 2002. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

Steven Andreasen (Rochester, Minnesota) is campaigning for the 1st district Congressional seat now held by Gil Gutknecht. Steve won the DFL endorsement in late April. Steve credits Prof. Don Ostrom with inspiring him to pursue a life of public service, first in the State Department, then Congress, and the White House. Best of luck to you!

Mike Bishop (Plymouth, Minnesota) is currently the director of claims operations for ANC Rental Corporation, the parent company of Alamo Rent-a-Car and National Car Rental. He splits his time between an office in Minneapolis and one in Boca Raton, Florida. He says he especially appreciates the latter during the winter! Mike’s wife continues to work for the Marshall Fields Corp. in the IT department. The Bishops have two boys, Tyler and Timmy (who are 5 and 9).

Lynda White Czarnetzki (Eagan, Minnesota) continues to work for the Minnesota Mutual Companies in St. Paul, where she is currently the Financial Manager for the firm’s broker dealer affiliate, Securian Financial Services. Lynda and her husband, Dean, have three children: Alison, Brian, and Lauren. The family is active at their church, Easter Lutheran Church, as well as in Girl Scouts and community sports.

Barbara Hannemann (Round Rock, Texas) made a trip to our alma mater this summer with her high school junior and senior. As she asked, “Where did the years go?” To that I add, “How can one of us be old enough to send a child to college?” Good luck with the college search!

Troy and Susan (Lunt) Hawksford continue to make their home in Northville, Michigan, with their four children: Ben, 14; Elizabeth, 12; Alexandra, 9; and Catherine, 7. Troy works for Douglas Corporation.

Dr. David Johnson (Eagan, Minnesota) was elected as the department chairman at the Phillips Eye Institute for 2002. Congratulations!

Kent Johnson (St. Michael, Minnesota) is teaching 8th grade earth science at Plymouth Middle School in the Robbinsdale School District.

Anita Modak-Truran (Jackson, Mississippi) was voted into the partnership at the law firm of Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada. She also writes a weekly film review column and is on the radio every Friday talking about—you guessed it—movies. She recently expanded into television and is now doing movie reviews for the ABC-affiliate in Jackson. Anita’s love of movies has even inspired her to create her own films. You can learn more about her film “Belles & Whistles,” a feature-length documentary debunking the myth of the southern belle, on its Web site at: www.bellesandwhistles.net. Her husband, Mark, is an associate professor of law at Mississippi College School of Law. He has published articles in the Marquette Law Review, the University of Richmond Law Review, and the Yale Journal of Law and Humanities. Their son, Michael, is in second grade, and sings in the all-city choir at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

Paul Nelson (Plymouth, Minnesota) has spent 17 years in the claims department of Allstate Insurance. His wife, Gail, works in HRIS at Target Corp. The Nelsons have two girls: Jenna, 8, and Courtney, 6.

Dr. Agnieszka Perlinska is an organizational consultant with the Stowe Consulting Company. She lives in Williston, Vermont, with her daughter, Kaya.

Chris Steele (St. Louis Park, Minnesota) and his wife welcome a son as well. Cameron was born on December 21, 2001. Congratulations to you too!

Sheri Lohrenz Zastrow (Rochester, Minnesota) is a clinical educator for neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic and is in the master’s program at the University of Phoenix. Her husband, Gregg, is an estimator for Adair Electric. They have two sons, ages 12 and 9.

News From The Hill

Welcome Class of 2006

Approximately 690 new students arrived on campus this fall keeping the total student enrollment just over 2500. There are many interesting opportunities for first year students even before school starts with a community service immersion experience in the Twin Cities, a cultural study in Paris and a wilderness experience in the Boundary Waters.

Gustavus named a “Best Buy”

The Fiske Guide has again named Gustavus one of forty-three “Best Buys” in the country. This is based on an exceptional investment of tuition money for an exceptional education.

Gustie students start new community service initiative called the AMIGOS program. The 65 Spanish speaking volunteers serve the growing Chicano-Latino population in St. Peter by providing after-school tutoring, teaching ESL classes to adults and serve as big partners. This program is in addition to the other on-going and one-time service opportunities that 75% of students participate in while at Gustavus.

Building a Great Gustavus Campaignwas launched to the public on Saturday, September 7. Since the tornadoes of 1998, the campaign has raised $77 million toward a $100 million goal. The focus of the remainder of the campaign is on funding renovations in Old Main, growing endowment, and increasing gifts and participation in the Gustavus Alumni Fund. Your personal financial support and your leadership are needed and greatly appreciated.

Minnesota Legislature Cuts Financial Aid

Due to cuts with the Minnesota State Legislature, Gustavus lost $400,000 in money for student employment. The college continues to work hard to meet financial needs of students since nearly 80% of Gustavus students receive financial assistance. This includes $14 million from the colleges own budget. Your support of the annual fund goes directly to help these students and is especially needed to help make up the financial gap for these current students.

Upcoming Events

Christmas in Christ Chapel is December 6 & 7. The theme this year will be songs, stories and legends from Scandinavia.

You may have already heard or read that Gustavus has named a Gustie—Rev. Dennis Johnson ’60—to serve as interim president following Dr. Axel Steuer’s retirement. Dennis earned his Master of Divinity at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and was ordained in 1965; he then served as a pastor in Dallas and St. Peter (at First Lutheran Church while we were in college). In 1985, he returned to Gustavus as vice president of church relations and in 1996 was named vice president of college relations. During his tenure in the college relations position, he twice served as interim vice president for development. Previously, he served on both the Gustavus Board of Trustees and the Gustavus Alumni Association Board. He retired from Gustavus in 2000, and in the last year, he served as the bishop’s associate for the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA.

Gustavus has adopted a new logo and has begun implementing in on various marketing communications elements. An integrated marketing team at Gustavus spent the last 15 months researching, interviewing, and creating a new visual identity to be used as a consistent image for the College. You can read about this at: gustavus.edu/news/releases/brand03200102.html.

On Arbor Day this year Gustavus dedicated the Linnaeus Arboretum Wetlands Preserve. The arboretum is quite extraordinary and teeming with a wide variety of plant life. Check it out the next time you’re on campus—it’s worth the walk.

The Gustavus chapter of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority was recognized for achieving the highest overall grade point average of all 104 Sigma chapters throughout the world. The grade point averages of the Gustavus sorority members combined to achieve a chapter average of 3.447 for last spring semester’s grades. “Tri Sigma” is the only nationally affiliated Greek organization at Gustavus.

Former Gustavus President John Kendall ’49 died July 26, 2002; he had been fighting leukemia for several years. He was the 12th president of Gustavus serving from 1981-1991. He was a longtime beloved and respected president and psychology professor. The family requests that memorials be given to the Christ Chapel Endowment Fund. For more information go to <gustavus.edu/news/releases/johnkendalldies07200203.html>.

Annual Fund Update

Our class finished the most recent fund year with 181 donors and $20,964.79 (that means a 37.8 percent participation rate). For comparison purposes, last year187 of us gave $22,368.88 (39 percent participation rate). It seems that we need to be a little more aggressive in order to meet the College’s goal of 50 percent by the 2004 fund year, which will be the 50th anniversary of the Annual Fund.

The Gustavus Alumni Fund Office announced the creation of the Cec Eckhoff Society. As director and vice president of the Gustavus Alumni Office for 31 years, he created the tradition of alumni giving, winning 17 national awards for alumni participation. Membership in the Cec Eckhoff Society is for graduates who pledge to make an annual gift to Gustavus and is not tied to any dollar commitment. Ken and I thought it would be great if 100 of us in the Class of ’84 would enroll this year (so many of us have already been making an annual contribution that joining now is just a formality). For more information, contact the Gustavus Alumni Fund Office at: 866/487-3863.

Gustavus has publicly launched the Building a Greater Gustavus capital campaign. Chapter events around the country this year will focus on the campaign. Look for an event coming to an area near you!

About @Gustavus

Those who share their e-mail address with the Alumni Office will receive @Gustavus, a monthly e-newsletter from the Gustavus Alumni Association. The purpose of @Gustavus is to provide alumni with updates about the College and alumni initiatives.

It seems I have come to the close of yet another class letter. I wish you well this fall and hope your travels—wherever they may take you—are safe and happy ones.

Carole Arwidson

1984 Co-Class Agent

P.S. Phonorama is right around the corner and if you’re interested in joining me and Ken, we’d love to have you. October 7–10 - Phono will be held at the Double Tree Hotel in Bloomington, and the week of October 12-17, we’ll be at U.S. Foodservice (formerly Alliant) in Eagan.